Over a hundred elephants march up and down Amber Fort everyday carrying tourists. Animal welfare organizations have urged India’s tourism ministry to ban elephant rides.

Asian elephants, seen as the embodiment of Lord Ganesh, are captured from the wild or resold from Circuses and undergo a barbaric training process called ‘the crush’ whereby they are beaten and starved into submission by their handlers.

Amer Fort's elephants have multiple health problems including blindness, back pain, foot injuries, severe malnourishment and heat exhaustion. The wild Asian elephant population has decreased by 50 percent in the last 75 years as the monetary value has overtaken their cultural and religious significance.

Amber Fort, Jaipur

info

×

An Asian elephant stands to face her Mahout [Elephant Keeper] at Amer Fort in Jaipur, India.

info

×

Eye to Eye

info

×

Elephant Owner's Development Society, Jaipur

info

×

A Mahout (elephant rider) calls to his elephant at the main entrance to Amer fort.

info

×

Eye to Eye

info

×

A mahout’s daughter with vitiligo stands beside her family's elephant in Jaipur, India

info

×

Over a hundred elephants march up and down Amber Fort everyday carrying tourists.